Sandhurst Trust

16/03/2026

On 26 March, 1 Platoon, Blenheim Company, will take on The Blenheim 2,200. This will be a gruelling casualty-evacuation challenge honouring the 2,200 British officers and soldiers who fell at the Battle of Blenheim on 13 August 1704.

Their challenge: 2,200 casualty drags, each one 17.04 metres long, with every repetition representing a life lost, and each rep symbolising the year of the battle, 1704.

They're raising money for three charities:
- The Army Benevolent Fund - supporting soldiers, veterans and their families
- The Sandhurst Trust - supporting the Sandhurst community
- St Catherine's Hospice - providing specialist palliative care in Crawley

No rep unremembered. No sacrifice unforgotten.

Please show your support, however big or small, and help honour their legacy: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oneplatoon-blenheimcoy-2200forblenheim

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Iʼm raising money to support St Catherine’s Hospice, the Army Benevolent Fund and Sandhurst Trust. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

08/03/2026

Today, on International Women’s Day, we’re sharing the story of Brigadier Eileen Nolan CB, one of the British Army’s true trailblazers.
From joining the ATS in 1942 to becoming the highest-ranking female officer in NATO, Eileen spent 35 years quietly but steadily changing what was possible for women in the armed forces.

Read her full story on the Sandhurst Trust website via this link: https://sandhursttrust.org/news/cemetery/244/244-Steady-Firm-and-Forward-The-Legacy-of-Brigadier-Eileen-Nolan-CB

Brigadier Eileen Joan Nolan CB, a remarkable leader, a trail blazer whose diligent strength helped shape the role of women in the British Army and NATO.

24/02/2026

The Sandhurst alumni network continues to grow!
We are proud to see Belize preparing to formally establish its Sandhurst Alumni Chapter, strengthening regional collaboration and leadership under the enduring motto, “Serve to Lead.”
A significant moment for the Sandhurst community.

18/02/2026

Continuing our journey through the archives of the Royal Military College (RMC), here is another fantastic glimpse into life at Sandhurst just over a decade before our last post. Spot the familiar stripes

However it is the gentleman in a boater hat and dark jacket standing proudly with the RMC VIII rowing teams that we are focussing on today.

This is Henry Philip Husted, affectionately known to generations of cadets and officers simply as "The Admiral."

Though his nickname suggests a high-ranking naval officer, Henry’s "command" was the RMC lake. Listed in both the 1911 and 1921 censuses as the Boat Proprietor at the college, he was the guardian of the fleet and the mentor to every cadet who picked up an oar.

He wasn't just staff; he was a fixture of Sandhurst life. Whether it was preparing the crews for the Henley Royal Regatta or the Marlow Eights Challenge Cup (which you can see the team proudly displaying in the 1921 photo), "The Admiral" was there, ensuring everything was "shipshape."

Henry passed away in 1922, but the impact he had on the college was profound. He is buried in the cemetery at RMAS (Royal Military Academy Sandhurst) in plot 542. Perhaps the greatest testament to his character is his gravestone, which bears a moving inscription:

"This stone was erected by the officers and cadets of the college."
In an era of strict military hierarchy, the fact that the entire college came together to fund and erect a monument for their Boat Proprietor speaks volumes about the affection and respect he commanded.

Thank you to Henry Husted's great grand daughter for supplying these great photographs

15/02/2026

The Hidden Fortress & The Sandhurst Astronomer: John Narrien 🔭
Did you know that an area the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Fort Narrien, carries the name of a self-taught mastermind who reshaped British military science?

John Narrien (1782–1860) was the intellectual engine of Sandhurst for nearly 50 years. The son of a stonemason, he rose to become a Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy, proving that grit and self-education could reshape an institution.

At Sandhurst, Narrien realized that abstract math was useless to a soldier without practical application. He authored a series of rigorous textbooks that became the college's gold standard.

Elements of Geometry (1842): Foundational logic for engineering.
Practical Astronomy and Geodesy (1845): Taught cadets how to determine latitude and map terrain using stellar observations.
Analytical Geometry (1846): Focused on conic sections, essential for calculating projectile trajectories.

The Lost Fort & Observatory
In 1832, Narrien oversaw the construction of a model defensive fortification at Sandhurst, used to test siege tactics in real-time. He also built a celestial observatory on the mound behind Old College to teach cadets how to navigate by the stars. While the structures are gone, the landscape still bears the subtle imprints of his work, and his legacy lives on in the name of Fort Narrien.

A Place of Remembrance
Though John Narrien passed away in London, part of his heart remained at Sandhurst. Tragedy struck him during his tenure; he lost his child in 1836, followed by his beloved wife, Elizabeth. Both rest in Plot 68 of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Cemetery.

As part of our New Heritage Project: Restoring the RMAS Cemetery, we are lovingly restoring Elizabeth and their child’s grave. By supporting this project, you help preserve the memory of the Narrien family and the many others who built the foundations of the Academy.

Help us honour Sandhurst’s "Grand Astronomer" by ensuring his family’s resting place is preserved for future generations.

Make a lasting contribution today: https://sandhursttrust.org/pages/cementery-restoration-project

10/02/2026

This photograph shows a squad marching to the gymnasium at Sandhurst in 1932. Nearly a century later, Officer Cadets still march the same grounds to the gym, though in a very different uniform!

There is something about these stripes.

What do you think should the Academy bring these kits back, or should they stay firmly in the archives?

Thank you to the Sandhurst Collection for this photograph
https://sandhurstcollection.co.uk/

07/02/2026

Discover what our newest Officer Cadets have been up to over their first five weeks.

02/02/2026

Reverend William Wheeler was one of the most enduring figures in the early history of the Royal Military College, serving as its Chaplain for nearly four decades during a formative period in the institution’s development. His tenure spanned the College’s relocation to Sandhurst, its early royal patronage, and the establishment of traditions that continue to shape the Academy today.

William Wheeler graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford, with a Master of Arts degree in 1799. He was appointed Chaplain to the Royal Military College in 1804, a post he would hold until his death in 1841. At the time, the role of chaplain extended well beyond spiritual duties.

Early estimates for the College show that the Chaplain was also expected to act as Librarian and superintendent of classical instruction. The latter seen not only as the foundation of a gentleman’s education, but also of use in developing literary skills, acquiring other languages, and, where military texts were studied, a sense of military ethos and history

Wheeler played a prominent ceremonial role during one of the most significant moments in Sandhurst’s early history. Following the completion of the main Palladian-style College building (now known as Old College) and the relocation of the Junior Department in 1812, the Royal Military College received its first royal visit on 12 August 1813.

On this occasion, Queen Charlotte formally presented Colours to the Gentlemen Cadets, praising the institution’s contribution to the struggle for the “restoration of the independence and liberties of Europe.” The Colours were subsequently consecrated in the newly completed College Chapel by Reverend Wheeler, following established regimental tradition.

‘You will, I trust, confirm the words inscribed on these Colours, equally applicable to the increasing advantages which this institution promises to the Army, and to the prowess of the nation, justly exalting in the distinguished part she has taken in a contest, the object of which is the restoration of the independence and liberties of Europe.’
HM Queen Charlotte, Sandhurst 1813

Within The Sandhurst Collection is a medal depicting the first presentation of Colours to RMC in 1813, this medal is now displayed in the Le Merchant Room within Old College.

The original Chapel, which Reverend Wheeler would have preached in occupied a central position within the College complex, both physically and symbolically. It was the largest enclosed space in the main building, situated opposite the main entrance, and its clock and bell regulated daily life. This room is now known as The Indian Army Memorial room.

Wheeler’s responsibilities included conducting daily prayers, preparing cadets for confirmation, and delivering religious instruction, for which prizes were awarded.

Wheeler remained in post until his death at Sandhurst on 29 October 1841, aged 66, the cause recorded as disease of the heart and lungs. His widow, Elizabeth, whom he had married in 1807, was granted the highest pension available to the widow of a chaplain.

Wheeler died on 29 Oct., 1841and is buried in plot 127 at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Cemetery

His grave will be lovingly restored as part of the New Heritage Project: Restoring the RMAS Cemetery. By supporting this project, you can help preserve the memory of Reverend William Wheeler and other heroes of our history, ensuring their remarkable stories continue to inspire future generations. Make a lasting contribution today by visiting here. DONATE https://sandhursttrust.org/news/heritage-fund/224/224-New-Heritage-Project-Restoring-the-RMAS-Cemetery

29/01/2026

On 29 January 1941, a German air raid struck the Royal Military College Sandhurst now the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. On a clear night, the college lake provided a visible landmark for enemy aircraft, and a bomb destroyed the end of D Wing of New College. Five officer cadets were killed and 25 injured.

The red circle indicates the damaged area, while the blue circle illustrates how the building should appear.

Amongst the wounded was Officer Cadet David Fraser (1920–2012), later General Sir David Fraser and Vice Chief of the General Staff, who narrowly escaped serious injury, as he later recalled in Wars and Shadows (2002).

‘I was in one of the glass-roofed lavatories and got away with part of the glass roof coming down on my head, which sent me, blood streaming, to the temporary hospital set up in one of the Sandhurst houses, but with no serious damage.’

However, the fullest and best account is given in ‘Caught in the Act’ (1986) by the actor Richard Todd (1919-2009) who, as an officer cadet, was wounded in the bombing.

“I had just had a bath and was walking along the corridor to my room, clad in my pyjamas and my towel slung over my shoulder. As I left the bathroom, although no alarm had been sounded, I became aware of the drone of an enemy twin-engine intruder plane, a sound which had become quite familiar. Then I swear I saw it. Clearly printed in my mind is the sight of the bomb as it came through the ceiling only yards in front of me and went through the floor before exploding somewhere below.

It could only have been a fraction of a second before the building all around me was gone upwards and outwards, and I was sailing through the air with the rubble. A second or two later I thumped down on the lawn some 30 or 40 yards from the building, bits of debris raining all around me. I was literally blown through walls that were not there any more. I scrambled to my feet and my limbs seemed to be working perfectly and I felt no pain anywhere. All I could feel was that for some reason I was very wet. I don’t remember how I got back into the building but I knew I must try to get help for those caught in the collapsed end of the wing.

All the electric light had failed so I had to scramble as best I could to the corridor connecting all four blocks. The first cadet to reach me shone a light on my and said

“Oh my God!” and was promptly sick. With the arrival of others and more light I almost had the same reaction. What I had thought to be warm water was in fact blood, trickling from puncture wounds and abrasions all over my face and body.

Two cadets helped me to the nearby College hospital, whose windows had been blown out, where my injuries were patched up. Altogether I had been very lucky. Five young men were killed that night, and a dozen or so had been hurt.’

The college was repaired later in the war; today, subtle differences in brickwork mark the extent of the damage. Of the five cadets killed, two were returned to their families, whilst three are buried in the Academy Cemetery:

• Officer Cadet T. W. Nutter, Coldstream Guards (Plot 471)
• Officer Cadet G. N. Owen, Coldstream Guards (Plot 472)
• Officer Cadet J. Morrow, Irish Guards (Plot 473)

Their graves are part of the New Heritage Project: Restoring the RMAS Cemetery, which aims to preserve the memory of these cadets and others who served. Read more https://sandhursttrust.org/news/heritage-fund/224/224-New-Heritage-Project-Restoring-the-RMAS-Cemetery

22/01/2026

General Sir George Scovell (1774–1861) served as Lieutenant-Governor and later Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Today his portrait hangs in Government House, the residence of the Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and he is buried in the Academy cemetery. Despite these honours, his extraordinary legacy remains little known to many who visit Sandhurst.

Born in Cirencester on 21 March 1774, Scovell entered the British Army in 1798 as a cornet in the 4th Queen’s Own Dragoons. He served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars, earning numerous honours, including the gold cross and the silver war medal with eight clasps. However, it was his exceptional linguistic ability and intelligence work, rather than battlefield command, that secured his lasting reputation.

Scovell rose to prominence during the Peninsular War whilst serving on the Duke of Wellington’s staff as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. Recognising his linguistic talents, Wellington placed him in charge of the Army Guides, a multilingual unit tasked with intercepting and interpreting French communications. In 1811 Scovell cracked the French Army of Portugal Code, a cipher of 150 numbers, within two days. When the French replaced it with the far more complex Great Paris Code of 1,400 numbers, Scovell persisted, working long hours while maintaining his field responsibilities.

By December 1812 he had deciphered enough of the new code to read an intercepted letter from Joseph Bonaparte to Napoleon, revealing French plans and troop movements. This intelligence played a crucial role in Wellington’s successful strategy at the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813, a decisive turning point in the war. Unaware their cipher had been broken, the French continued to transmit sensitive information, to their great disadvantage.

In 1813 Scovell was appointed to raise and command the Staff Corps of Cavalry, later known as the Staff Dragoons, the British Army’s first formal military police unit. Though equipped as light dragoons, they wore red uniforms and undertook policing, es**rt, and occasional combat duties.

Scovell also fought at the Battle of Waterloo, where a cannonball killed his horse and tore through his cloak, leaving him miraculously unharmed. He later received the Russian Order of St Vladimir and was appointed Knight Commander and subsequently Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

The Sandhurst Collection preserves several items connected to Scovell, including candlesticks fashioned from a horse’s hooves, possibly from the mount killed beneath him at Waterloo, and a letter referencing his experience at the battle.

The Sandhurst Collection exists to preserve the heritage of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and inspire Officer Cadets through military tradition and history.

Away from active service, Scovell married Mary Clowes in 1805, who remained a constant support throughout his career. After the wars, he served as Lieutenant-Governor (1829–1837) and Governor (1837–1856) of the Royal Military College, now The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Scovell died in 1861 and was buried alongside his wife in the Royal Military College Cemetery. Their grave is now being restored as part of the New Heritage Project, ensuring that his remarkable contributions continue to inspire future generations.

19/01/2026

Sharing this great update from the Academy as CC261 takes on their Navigation training.

Calling all RMAS alumni, does this bring back a little nostalgia?

What was your navigation training really like? Do you remember that “aha!” moment when the terrain finally matched the map… or maybe a less-planned scenic detour?

Drop your best (or funniest) navigation memories in the comments below.